Waterford City Library

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Waterford City Library, also known as the Central Library, is a public library in Waterford, Ireland. It was the first to be built of Ireland's many Carnegie libraries. The philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, who had previously opened libraries in Scotland and the US, himself laid the foundation stone in 1903. [1]

Contents

The library is built over Lady's Gate, part of the medieval city walls of the city. [2] The stump of the tower beside Lady's Gate on Lady Lane can be seen through glass in the floor of the library during library opening hours. [3]

Library Service in Waterford

Andrew Carnegie laying the foundation stone for the Library in 1903. Foundation stone of Waterford Free Library.jpg
Andrew Carnegie laying the foundation stone for the Library in 1903.
Internal ground floor library CLinterior.jpg
Internal ground floor library
Central Library at night 2024 Central Library at night 2024.jpg
Central Library at night 2024

Central Library is the main branch of Waterford City and County Libraries, part of Waterford City and County Council. Waterford Libraries has 12 public library branches spread throughout Waterford City and County, with a centrally located headquarters on the outskirts of Waterford City.

Waterford Libraries are regularly used by 16,000 members and record in excess of 500,000 visits and 500,000 loans annually. Waterford's Central Library is one of eight Europe Direct centres in Ireland, part of a network of local contact points that serve as the direct link between citizens and the EU Institutions.

Architecture

The classical-style building was constructed on a corner site using Kilkenny limestone. It is a protected structure. [4] In 2004 the library was reopened after having been renovated by McCullogh Mulvin Architects for its centenary. [5]

Exhibition

Images of the library were featured at the Venice Biennale of Architecture of 2008. [6] The title of the exhibition in question, "Lives of Spaces", was intended to elicit multiple interpretations, "suggesting that, while spaces can contain many lives, they can equally live many lives themselves". [7]

See also

Carnegie went on to fund four more libraries in County Waterford:

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References

  1. ↑ (20 October 1903), "Waterford honors Carnegie", New York Times
  2. ↑ "Waterford". Irish Walled Towns Network. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
  3. ↑ Pollock, Dave. https://irishwalledtownsnetwork.ie/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Medieval-Waterford-City-Walls-and-Towers_Illustrated-Guide.pdf.{{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  4. ↑ National Inventory of Architectural Heritage. "Waterford City Carnegie Free Library" . Retrieved 16 August 2012.
  5. ↑ WorkGroup (14 July 2024). "Waterford City Library". McCullough Mulvin. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
  6. ↑ "Official website of the library" . Retrieved 14 August 2012.
  7. ↑ "Lives of Spaces" . Retrieved 15 August 2012.
  8. ↑ Waterford Leader Partnership. "Ballyduff" . Retrieved 15 August 2012.
  9. ↑ FUSIO. "Cappoquin Carnegie Free Library, Main Street, CAPPOQUIN, Cappoquin, WATERFORD". Buildings of Ireland. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
  10. ↑ "Tallow library" . Retrieved 26 October 2019.

52°15′30″N7°07′08″W / 52.2583°N 7.119°W / 52.2583; -7.119

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